[DannieAS]

I am adopting through my county's CPS. I also live in SoCal.

Would like to eventually have 2...(If I don't get matched with siblings the first time lol)

LisaF, I don't live with my parents anymore but I live down the street so my parents will be a constant around my life as well. We have also talked about the possibility of selling our two homes in the future and getting a huge house that has something like you describe.

[millie58]

to the poster who asked how we do it with more than one:

the house is a mess
clothes are clean but not ironed
school work is done
kids are in activities

I pay my sister to clean; she LOVES doing it. Used to drop my laundry off but I now have a washing machine; I have a clothes line.

everything else: I fly by the seat of my pants!!

[sugarmuffin]

Thanks for sharing folks.......... i should also have added I have no support system to speak off. Glad some of you have parents/relatives to help.

Millie, I am doing what you described with just one. lol

[millie58]

I had one a few years ago and L, my 11 yo, was one at one point. With more than one, they play together and I don't have to entertain him.

[parenting-over-40]

Another single Mom here to "The Queen". She came to me at 4 weeks of age thru Foster Care. Currently 22 months old. I officially became her "forever Mommy" about a year ago. Hoping to add one more to the family in 2010.

[ocracoke]

Another single mom to my 4 year old (almost 5) daughter from Ethiopia -- home just over 3 years. Most days still hoping to add another one. Some days wondering how I am going to make it through the day with the one I have.

Since my daughter came home I have lived next door to my mom. At the very least it was good to have someone to vent to. About a month ago my mom sold her house and we all moved in together. This is a temporary solution as we try to save money to move. It came in handy a few weeks ago when I was in bed with the swine flu and she would take my daughter to school so I could sleep all day.

Looking forward to moving out of an apartment complex so my very loud, over active, adventurous girl doesn't have to always be told to be quiet.

Samantha

[Leeah]

Hello. I'm also a future single mom in the waiting process. The waiting process is definitely hard but it's great to be able to talk with others who are or who have been in the same boat. LisaF, I'm also a speech therapist stationed at only one school this year.

[Leeah]

Sorry, I meant my speech therapist comment for DanielleAS.

[HeidiK]

I have two guys with very little family support - My mom lived with me for 3yrs but moved to Florida 6 months ago - That was hard but it needed to happen. AND I was matched with my 1st son at 40. I went back to working night shift and have a great babysitter. Its hard and today was espically tough. I would rather be in a room with 10 2 yr olds instead of one 3 1/2 yr old. Its a hard age...

That said - wouldn't change a thing...

Just wondering how many of the single moms are also raising kids of color - both of my boys are AA

[ocracoke]

Heidi,

My daughter is from Ethiopia so she is a "kid of color" -- she clearly states she is brown and, unfortunately, she has decided that I am yellow.

And I agree, it is the terrible 2's and the even more horrible 3's. I have heard that 4 is suppose to be a better age but since my daughter turns 5 in about 6 weeks I am hoping her attitude improves soon.

Samantha

[DannieAS]

Originally Posted by Leeah

Hello. I'm also a future single mom in the waiting process. The waiting process is definitely hard but it's great to be able to talk with others who are or who have been in the same boat. LisaF, I'm also a speech therapist stationed at only one school this year.

Yeehaw. It's great to only be at one school right????!!!!! I think we have the best job in the world. I just like the science behind it and the fact that I can go home when my day ends working in the schools...sometimes teachers spend hours after school....(of course on IEP days, I stay sometimes hours after but they aren't every day)

Didn't always use to be that way but now with general interventions put in place so we don't have to test the whole world like before and the fact that I have ELD time in the mornings to write my IEPs and reports, I'm actually done by the time school ends. What a concept.

[cynthia900]

I have 3 girls aged 10, 7 and 3. I found 2 to be the easiest - because the work doesn't increase but they are able to help each other and entertain each other. Three is harder mainly because we are still in the toddler stage and chasing the little one everywhere and because the age difference is pretty big so I have to plan to manage age appropriate activities. I long ago gave up the idea of keeping the house perfect etc. I am more spontaneous outside of the scheduled acitivities. I don't ever feel guilty for not doing what all the neighborhood stay at home moms do or for asking someone to pick my kids up for a playdate instead of driving etc. I have a live in nanny (cheaper than daycare) who does housework too and that it a tremendous help. It allows me to spend more one on one time with each child and to get errands done during the week so weekends are just family time.

[sugarmuffin]

I like our little group........

My little one needs a bath and so i had better get to it. Ha

[BethanyB]

I'm also a single mom. I adopted two children through the foster care system. My son was a newborn when he came to me and then I got the unexpected call for his newborn bio sister a year later. It was hard being single and raising kids to close in age, but I am SO glad I did it. They are beautiful children and I am so glad that they have each other.

I think being a single mom is very hard but I always seem to make due one way or another!

[HeidiK]

It can be hard at times, but I can admit - I rather like being the queen of the castle. I have always said I miss having a husband twice a year - once when I hangthe holiday lights and then when I take them down. And now I know you can pay someone to do that too.